A really BIG Post here!

Ok, since I am falling further and further behind on blogging from this summer's vacation I decided to just throw it all into one big ole' Blog!! So sorry now, but this is picture heavy for sure!!

When we went to Orlando this summer we got to stay at the Gaylord Palms. It was so nice and we loved our view from our room of the interior of the hotel. The kids and I hung out at the Octopus pool during the day while Josh was at his conference. We also loved just walking around the hotel seeing the Alligator Pools and all the other vivid scenery at the Gaylord.

The view from our balcony.

Little Miss enjoyed looking out too!

Taking a scenic tour of the hotel during the day!

They had a wedding here while we were there.

Chompin' like the alligators behind them!

Cool boat inside the hotel!

The pool


One night we got to go the Animal Kingdom Lodge and eat at Saana, which was wonderful! Unfortunately for us, we were charging the battery camera and forgot to put it back in! The kids loved walking out to the Savannah and seeing all the cool animals hanging out there. We also enjoyed the authentic African food, very different but good!

We also headed out to Downtown Disney one night! We love it there! We ate at Wolfgang Puck's which is so yummy and then got to see all the DD attractions. Of course we always have to go the BIG Disney Toy store and the Lego store every time we go! This year Paxton was on a mission to find the store where you could build your own Light saber! So we found the store and Paxton and Daddy enjoyed putting together a really cool lights and sound light saber! We also found Goofy's our favorite treat place at DD! As you can see below, we all enjoyed our special desserts!

Two sweet Princesses!

Lego Man!

Lorelei enjoyed Lego building as well!

It's a race, who's Lego car is the fastest?

The Force is with you, buddy!

Goofy's

You know when I start taking pictures of the food that is must be looking good!

Paxton's M&M pretzel stick.

Lorelei's Nemo cookie.

Daddy's German Chocolate Cookie filled with icing!

Mama's Carrot Cake Cookie, mmmmm!


After leaving Orlando we went to Hilton Head but we made a fun stop on the way. We stopped at the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine which we had visited a few years ago. It was really HOT but it was neat to see all the different alligators again and to see the feedings. The highlight was when the kids got to hold a baby alligator, so cute! Paxton wanted to hold the python but this mama, said no way!

This was one crazy worker getting in there with those hungry alligators!

Maybe I should buy them one of their own? Never!

You can't really tell from this picture but there were tons of birds in this tree, it was really cool!

The kids even got to feed the alligators!

The alligators were ready for us!

There were some other animals at the Alligator Farm as well. This was a prettier one, but the spiders, oh man! They were huge and loose around the farm, just hanging there, ugh!

After St. Augustine we went to Hilton Head! We really enjoyed it there. So much to do or so little to do, whatever you choose. Tons of good places to eat and shop too! We enjoyed the Lighthouse, miniature golf, shopping, eating, riding bikes all over the island and lots of swimming everyday! Oh such a fun vacation, wish I was there again!

Here are my sleeping babies after a long day of traveling!

The view from our room at the Westin in Hilton Head

Harbor Town in Hilton Head. We ran into Paxton's kindergarten teacher from last year just walking around down here! He was very excited to see her!

From the top of the lighthouse.

We had so much fun playing miniature golf a couple of nights! We even came back home and went too!

Future golf Pro!

Not a future golf pro!

Lil' Surfer Dude!

Love this picture!

Paxton really enjoyed trying to surf, he even stood a couple of times.

Lorelei liked it too!

Lil' surfer girl!

Kids and sand!

Attitude!

Much cuter!

Love him!

Kind of blurry, but looks cool!

So if you think I posted way too many pictures, I am sure I did, but believe me this is way narrowed down from all the whole!

SIX!

Today my boy turns SIX!!! He is getting to be so old and so big! We did some big time celebrating over the weekend! First, we had a big LEGO party at the Lego store here! Super fun with 13 boys and tons of Legos! You can't have a Lego party there until you are 6 so we have been waiting a while to finally have it here! Paxton LOVES Legos and we love them too! He is quite good at them and can put those huge sets together with 800+ pieces together in no time.

Paxton had all the boys from his class come plus his two older boy cousins. The boys got to build their own Star Wars Lego man and then the party director took them to a table and dumped out about a billion Legos for them to create things and build. The boys had lots of fun building all kinds of Star Wars creations! It's amazing how long those six year old boys could attune to that one task. After building each boy got to fill a box of any kind of bricks (Lego pieces) that he wanted as his take home treat. Plus they each got their Lego man and a Lego magazine.

After a fun filled Lego hour or so we headed down to the food court for some pizza and Star Wars cake. The boys got a little wild after eating but I think it was a good wind down from a long week at school. Paxton took home his presents to open and was loving it all!

Let's all YELL "Happy Birthday Paxton" so the whole mall can here!

Building their Lego Men.

Danny and Paxton having fun building.

Grandmama and Grandaddy stopped by the party and helped us out a lot with transporting things!

Ok, now how CUTE are these two sweeties? Lorelei and Maren, two peas in a pod!

Entertaining themselves at the Lego party being ballerinas!

Not sure what this face is about but I thought it was too funny!

Pax and his Daddy!

Paxton and his boys!

Lego-maniac!

Star Wars Cake!

Don't you love the little hand in the background, ready to dig in!

Back at home ready to dive into the presents!

Oh how I wish I had his initial expression when he opened this gift. His very very favorite gift from Grandmama and Grandaddy, a Chess Set! Paxton loves Chess right now, talks about it constantly, wants to play it on the computer constantly and now, his very OWN set. This is a picture of true happiness!

Quite a stack!

He has even begun teaching Lorelei how to play, next on his list to teach, his Mama!

So Sunday afternoon we had a family party. It was supposed to be at our house but unfortunately the air decided to go out just before the party so we took our sweaty selves up to Grandmama and Grandaddy's house for his party. We have such a large extended family it's hard to really celebrate with all the friends around (I have tried that in the past and it doesn't work too well!).

Showing off his Tinker Toys creation that he had made earlier that week.

The LPV, Von, Lala and Pam (with Micah)

Cutie!

Micah and Pam

Nathan

Oh Yeah!

Grandaddy, baby Jude and Lorelei

Oh, Daddy is so proud!

Yummy!

My big six year old boy. Paxton we are so proud of you and who you are becoming! Keep working hard and always do your best. Mama and Daddy love you always! Trust in God, HE is always there!

A Great First Week!

My big man started K6 this week (for those that don't know K6 is after K5-kindergarten, and before first grade, for those that another year). Anywho, Paxton loves it! He just does so well in school and thrives on the routine and structure of it all! He loves his new teacher and he has a couple of kids from last year in his class as well. I miss having him home with us but it is so good for him. His school ROCKS! We are so blessed to have him there! Here's looking forward to another awesome year!

Outside his school on the first day!

He was NOT happy about having to take another picture! Especially with his sister. I think we embarrassed him with all the pictures. He said "Why do you have to keep taking pictures, and why did you have to bring the camera in the class?" HA!

Happy for me to be leaving, and the fun to begin!